Grumbling alleges that he complained to management about all of the incidents over a period of more than five years, but the harassment continued. In 1999, after he was chased around Modesto and threatened with death, Grumbling bought a handgun and told his boss that he bought the gun since management wasn't protecting him against the illegal harassment and threats by fellow postal workers. Management investigated Grumbling's purchase of the gun and found that he had properly registered it and took safety classes so they didn't discipline him.

Grumbling filed suit after an administrative law judge at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that the federal equal employment opportunity laws did not protect him because they did not prohibit sexual orientation discrimination or harassment. Grumbling filed suit to test what protections gay workers have under federal law, to recover damages for the years of harassment that he suffered, and to raise awareness about the severity of this problem that continues to exist in the workplace.

SEE MODESTO BEE STORY ON THE WEB AT: www.modbee.com/local/story/7412155p-8331164c.html.